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Spiritualism 



What Is It? 







By 

ALFRED HrTERRY 

Pastor of The First Spiritualist Church 
Washington, D. C. 



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V 



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Copyright, 1922 
ly ALFRED H. TERRY 






Printed by 

HAYWORTH PUBLISHING HOUSE 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 



C1A676519 



PREFACE 

The purpose of this little book is to, in 
a brief and condensed form, give some 
idea of the mission, revelations, and teach- 
ings of Modern Spiritualism. It is writ- 
ten for all who are now Spiritualists, and 
for those seekers after truth who have just 
entered the portals of Spiritualism, or 
are standing upon its threshold looking 
in. If this book becomes the means of 
conveying to its readers some idea of 
what Spiritualism really is, and leads 
them into conscious communion with 
God's ministering spirits, it will have ful- 
filled its mission. 

Alfred H. Terry. 
April, 1922. 
131 C Street N. E., 

Washington, D. C. 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

What Spiritualism Is 7 

Who Are These Spiritualists? 15 

Truth 19 

Universal Religion 29 

Spirit Communion 33 

The Bible and Spiritualism 37 

Spiritual Gifts and Mediumship 43 

Power of Effort 51 

Rebirth 57 

Right Principle 65 

Free Will 69 

Liberty 75 

Conquest of Fear 8 5 

Testimony of Distinguished Men and Women... 95 
Conclusion 112 



GOD 

The inspired Russian statesman, Ga- 
briel Derzhavin, who in the seventeenth 
century held a high place among the 
poets of his country, wrote an ode to 
Deity of which the following verses form 
the substances: 

Oh, thou eternal One! whose presence bright 
All space doth occupy, all motion guide; 
Unchanged through time's all devasting flight; 
Thou only God! There is no God beside! 
Being above all beings ! Mighty One ! 
Whom none can comprehend and none explore, 
Who fill'st existence with Thyself alone; 
Embracing all, — supporting, — ruling o'er, — 
Being whom we call God — and know no more ! 

In its sublime research, philosophy 

May measure out the ocean deep — may count 

The sands or the sun's rays — but God! for thee 

There is no weight nor measure ; none can mount 

Up to Thy mysteries ; Reason's brightest spark, 

Though kindled by Thy light, in vain would try 

To trace Thy counsels, infinite and dark; 

And thought is lost, ere thought can soar so high, 

Even like past moments in eternity. 

A million torches lighted by Thy hand 
Wander unwearied through the blue abyss; 
They own Thy power, accomplish Thy command, 
All gay with life, all eloquent with bliss; 



What shall we call them? Piles of crystal light — 
A glorious company of golden streams — 
Sans lighting systems with their joyous beams 
But Thou to these art as the noon to night. 

Nought ! but the effluence of Thy light divine, 
Pervading worlds, hath reach'd my bosom, too; 
Yes! in my spirit doth Thy spirit shine 
As shines the sunbeam in a drop of dew. 
Nought! but I live, and on hope's pinions fly 
Eager towards Thy presence; for in Thee 
I live, and breathe, and dwell; aspiring high 
Even to the throne of Thy divinity. 
I am, O God ! and surely Thou must be ! 

Creator, yes ! Thy wisdom and Thy word 
Created me! Thou source of life and good! 
Thou spirit of my spirit, and my Lord! 
Thy light. Thy love, in their bright plenitude 
Filled me with an immortal soul, to spring 
Over the abyss of death, and bade it wear 
The garments of eternal day, and wing 
Its heavenly flight beyond this little sphere 
Even to its source — to Thee — its Author there. 

O thoughts ineffable! O visions bless'd! 
Thought worthless our conceptions all of Thee, 
Yet shall Thy shadowed image fill our breast. 
And waft its homage to Thy Deity, 
God! thus alone my lowly thoughts can soar; 
Thus seek Thy presence — being wise and good! 
'Midst Thy vast works admire, obey, adore; 
And when the tongue is eloquent no more, 
The soul shall speak in tears of gratitude. 



WHAT SPIRITUALISM IS 

The religion of Spiritualism is founded 
upon certain principles, the substance of 
which is belief in an Infinite Intelli- 
gence. The immortality of the soul and 
its personal characteristics. Communica- 
tion with the so-called dead as a fact 
scientifically proven by the phenomena of 
Spiritualism. Personal responsibility with 
compensation and retribution hereafter 
for the good or evil deeds done while in 
earth life, and that the path of eternal 
progress is open to every human soul. 

Spiritualism in its broadest sense is a 
knowledge of everything pertaining to 
the spiritual nature of human beings. It 
is a science, a religion, a philosophy, and 
embraces the whole realm of nature. It 
demonstrates the fact that death is not the 
end, but an entrance into a spiritual plane 
of existence, from which it is possible to 
communicate with those still in earth life. 
It brings comfort to the bereaved, re- 
moves the fear of death, and reveals the 

[7] 



spirit world as a life in which progress is 
the keynote of existence. It reveals man's 
spiritual powers and teaches how to de- 
velop and unfold them. To commune 
with the so-called dead, see visions, hear 
voices and demonstrate the great truth of 
immortality. It teaches the use of the 
healing power of the spirit, by which the 
ills of the flesh may be overcome. It re- 
veals the divinity of work, the magic of 
effort, that every man can become the 
master of his fate, the architect of his des- 
tiny. Spiritualism affirms that the time 
of miracles has never passed, in fact, there 
is now dawning a period in which greater 
revelations of the spirit will be revealed 
than ever before in the world's history. 

Spiritualism reveals the way of deliver- 
ance from evil by education, the enlight- 
enment which truth brings. It teaches 
that the law of cause and effect is abso- 
lute not only in regard to the earth life, 
but also of the spiritual world. That 
good acts result in good and evil deeds in 
evil, the effects of which man experiences 

[8] 



both in this life and the existence after 
death. 

A conflict between Spiritualism and 
Science is impossible, as every discovery 
of science but establishes the basis of the 
teachings and revelations of Spiritualism 
on a firmer foundation; this is no doubt 
why so many of the world's leading scien- 
tists are Spiritualists. 

Spiritualism teaches the equality of the 
sexes. It recognizes woman as the equal 
of man and it seeks to awaken her to her 
wonderful possibilities. It gives a prac- 
tical demonstration of its recognition of 
woman by ordaining her to fill its ros- 
trums as an exponent of its philosophy 
and a demonstrator of its phenomena. 

Spiritualism contains all the resources 
necessary to console the afflicted, enrich 
philosophy, regenerate religion, and to 
attract at the one time the affection of the 
most humble disciple and the respect of 
the greatest genius. It satisfies the noblest 
flights of the intellect and the highest as- 
piration of the heart. It offers the world 
a remedy against sorrow, and, in giving 

[9] 



life an infinite goal, Spiritualism offers a 
reason for living and suffering which 
makes life an object worthy of the soul 
and of God. 

The mighty truths of this religion do 
not rest alone upon the revelations of the 
far distant past, but upon what is of more 
vital importance, the everlasting present. 
Spirits are descending to commune with 
man today in greater numbers and in a 
more satisfactory manner than they did 
two thousand years ago, and man is 
awakening to their presence, being thrilled 
by their touch and inspired by the ema- 
nations of their wisdom. 

There is no word which could better ex- 
press the meaning of this great religion 
than Spiritualism, as it stands as the an- 
tagonist of materialism. It stands for the 
highest morality and the purest religion 
for the science of life here and hereafter. 

The testimony for Spiritualism is 
mighty, unshakable, immortal. Look to 
the furtherest antiquity down to the pres- 
ent time, an unbroken army of mighty 

[10] 



witnesses, an innumerable company of 
Prophets, of Teachers, of Saints. 

This great religion, with its divine 
revelations, is growing more and more 
into the limelight of the world's interest 
than ever before. Its consoling religion, 
enlightening philosophy and convincing 
phenomena are reaching all people in 
various parts of the world and bringing 
them into a closer harmony with God. 
Spiritualism has entered the realms of 
religion, philosophy, science, art and the 
most acceptable literature of the day. 
The great minds, leading thinkers have 
been touched, aroused and convinced of 
the sublime reality of its teachings. No 
doubt one of the main reasons for this 
great progress is that the vital question 
"If a man die shall he live again?" is more 
fully and satisfactorily answered with 
evidence which must convince every 
honest investigator. Another fact which 
impresses the mind of the liberal thinker 
who investigates Spiritualism is its great 
scope, its broadness; it has no set limits 
but is as boundless in its expression of 



wisdom as truth is infinite. Here, at last, 
is a religion which embodies the essence 
of science and philosophy, wherein there 
is room for the growth and development 
of every man, no matter what his religion 
may be, for in Spiritualism he will find all 
the vital facts of his faith and more be- 
sides. 

Spiritualism is as old as man, and it 
holds within its splendid philosophy and 
inspiring religious teachings all that has 
been and the essence of all that will be. 
Take the sacred books of all people, the 
Gospel of Buddha, the Koran of Ma- 
homet, the Talmud and with them place 
the Old and New Testment ; here are com- 
bined the spiritual history, the revela- 
tions, of the early ages of man. Spiritual- 
ism is the vital flame of truth in every one 
of these books, giving light and life to 
their pages ; as its great feature is to bring 
man into communion with the supposed 
dead, and this has been the source, the in- 
spiration, from which every religion has 
been born. As Moses and Mohamet went 
up on the mountain to talk with the spirit, 

[12] 



and Buddha listened to its voice within 
the walls of his palace, so the great found- 
ers of religious systems received their 
knowledge through spirit return, from 
the ancient up to the present day. 

Spiritualism, in its modern expression, 
had its humble beginning in the year 
eighteen forty-eight, when, in a small cot- 
tage in Hydesville, N. Y., where a family 
lived by the name of Fox, rappings and 
other strange noises were heard. John D. 
Fox, his wife and two daughters investi- 
gated these manifestations and finally, on 
the night of March thirty-first, responses 
were gained by means of raps. In the 
last seventy-four years these little raps 
have echoed and reechoed around the 
world, arousing such interest that societies 
have been formed, churches erected, chil- 
dren's lyceums instituted, while thousands 
of books have been published. All this 
great work in seventy-four years ! What 
a future lies before this great truth, whose 
destiny is to become the universal religion. 



[13] 



WHO ARE THESE 
SPIRITUALISTS? 

Who are these Spiritualists? Are they 
the rabble? The fanatic? The ignorant? 
By no means! They are the most intelli- 
gent and able people of all classes. 

There are no fools in Spiritualism, as 
it is not a religion which in any way ap- 
peals to fools, for it naturally draws to its 
arena of thought thinking people, those 
who are the workers, the creators in life. 

A Spiritualist is one who believes the 
spirits of the so-called dead live, and, 
under certain conditions, can communi- 
cate with those in the earth life. One 
whose spiritual powers of insight and dis- 
cernment are awakened to where he can 
perceive things as they are and receive 
truth in all its different shapes and forms. 
The Spiritualist is free, he recognizes 
liberty as his birth right, and he claims the 
God given power of thinking for himself. 
He has passed out of that stage in his 
evolution where he allows other men to do 

[15] 



his thinking for him, to tell him what he 
shall believe and what he shall not. A 
Spiritualist is one who breaks off the 
chains from his soul, tears away orthodox 
fetters, and rises to those supreme heights 
of the spirit, upon whose lofty peaks the 
light of the divine shines. He believes in 
God, and sees His work, not alone be- 
tween the covers of a single book, but re- 
flected from the pages of many volumes, 
in nature, in the heart of his fellowman, 
within himself. 

The world's great reformers, teachers, 
scientists, inventors, discoverers, writers, 
musicians and poets have all, with but few 
exceptions, been Spiritualists. These 
great souls, whose thought and effort 
illuminate every page of the world's his- 
tory, to whom we are indebted for all that 
represents the highest civilization of the 
present, all recognized the spirit world 
and the influence of attending spirits, 
from whom they knew their highest in- 
spiration came. They believed that the 
spirits of the so-called dead are God's 

[16] 



ministering angels and they ever sought 
their counsel and guidance. 

The cream of the entire world of intel- 
lect and genius are Spiritualists, and, by 
the blessings of God, they shall increase 
in number, power and glory. 

To go back to the farthest antiquity 
and up to the present time we find the 
great men of the time in which they lived 
were Spiritualists; such men as Anaxa- 
goras, Porphyry, Apollonius, Pythagoras, 
Hesiod, Socrates, Plato, Pindar, Aristo- 
tle, Cicero, Plutarch, Mahomet, Shake- 
speare, Goethe, Emanuel Swedenborg, 
John Wesley, Theodore Parker, Abra- 
ham Lincoln, John Ruskin, Victor Hugo, 
Bulwer Lytton, Stainton Moses, Vic- 
torien Sardou, W. T. Stead, M. L. Sav- 
age, William Denton, Henry Ward 
Beecher, William James, Cesare Lom- 
broso, Alfred R. Wallace, James H. 
Hyslop, Conan Doyle, F. M. H. Myers, 
Oliver Lodge, Camille Flammarion. 



[17] 



TRUTH 

The first great mission of Spiritualism 
is to reveal truth, and, in so doing, edu- 
cate man to the realities of life. It con- 
firms that sublime doctrine of Jesus, "the 
kingdom of God is within you," and its 
purpose is to help man come into the 
power and glory of this kingdom within. 

Robert Browning, in speaking of truth, 
says : 

"Truth is within ourselves ; it takes no rise 
From outward things, whate'er you may believe 
There is an inmost center in us all, 
Where Truth abides in fulness." 

Truth is one, it never contradicts it- 
self. One Truth cannot contradict 
another, but error can contradict itself, so 
there are many errors, each at variance 
with the rest. Truth is therefore of neces- 
sity an element of harmony, error is neces- 
sarily an element of discord. Shakespeare 
brings out this fact when he says: "Truth 
is truth to the end of reckoning." 

[19] 



Over two thousand years ago Pytha- 
goras, the great Greek philosopher, in 
describing truth, said: "Truth is so great 
a perfection that if God would render 
himself visible to men, he would choose 
light for His body and Truth for his 
soul." Truth is the greatest thing in the 
world for, as Ingersoll expresses it, 
"Truth civilizes, ennobles and purifies. 
Truth gives man the greatest power for 
good. It is the sacred light of the soul. 
The man who finds a truth lights a torch." 

Spiritualism has come, with its living 
flame of truth, to light the torch of knowl- 
edge within the minds of men, which will 
illuminate the way up out of the narrow 
confines of error to the heights of the 
spirit, where truth abides. Spiritualism 
holds before man the mirror of truth, 
upon whose polished surface are revealed 
the vital facts of existence as they really 
are. 

Emerson, in speaking of truth, says: 
"The firmest and noblest ground on which 
people can live is truth; the real with 
the real ; a ground on which nothing is as- 

[20] 



suined." Buddha tell us "The truth is a 
living power for good, indestructible and 
invincible! Work the truth out in your 
mind, and spread it among mankind, for 
truth alone is the saviour from sin and 



misery." 



If there is one thing the world needs, 
above all others, it is truth, for the veils 
of error and illusion have been draped, by 
ignorant or designing minds, over the 
great facts of existence. There is hardly 
a great religious revelation but has been 
either distorted so it has lost all of its 
divine purity of truth, or else so veiled by 
man's predjudiced opinions as to no 
longer resemble its reality. 

The great work of Spiritualism is not 
so much to give anything that is new as 
to reveal what is old, in all its virgin 
beauty as it was when it came fresh from 
the heights of divine inspiration, and be- 
fore it was polluted by the influence of 
designing minds. 

In educating man Spiritualism is 
thereby overcoming the greatest of all 
evils — ignorance, the source from which 

[21] 



springs all sin, trouble, pain and suffering. 
That which liberates man from ignorance 
conveys life's greatest blessing — freedom 
crowned with knowledge. Its purpose is 
to educate man into a knowledge of the 
laws governing life here on earth, and in 
the spirit world. 

In this great work Spiritualism meets 
the same opposition that all movements 
for truth have had to contend with in the 
past. Its leaders and followers experi- 
ence conditions somewhat similar to those 
of the truth bearers of past times. 

Man has ever persecuted the truth 
bearers, whose messages were to free him 
from the chains of error and lead him out 
of bondage into freedom. Jesus, the great 
truth giver, the power of whose message 
has come down to us through the ages, 
growing more and more comprehensive as 
man has grown in understanding, was 
once called a blasphemer, a liar and was 
crucified as such. Socrates, the mighty 
lover of truth, was condemned to death 
by a people whom he was trying to help. 
Joan of Arc, that inspired being, one of 

[22] 



the most striking figures that ever crossed 
the stage of history, after having won 
for her king victory, was brought to 
the stake to die as a sorceress and heretic. 
This great soul, with her wonderful life, 
and her great mission which she accom- 
plished, was a splendid illustration of 
spirit return, and is one of the greatest 
characters in history who reveals the truth 
of Spiritualism. 

Has the nature of man changed in the 
last two thousand years? No! man's na- 
ture has not changed, but the times have. 
There are today many who, if they could, 
would bring forth the terrible inquisition 
of the past, and all who would not bow 
down and worship their particular creed 
would be put to the same fiendish torture. 
It is true there are today no bloody 
crosses, no poison cups, or burning stakes, 
but in spite of the boasted toleration of 
these days, it cannot be denied there still 
lurks a spirit of the inquisition, which does 
not vent itself in physical violence, but is 
nevertheless most galling to its victims. 

[23] 



President Harding, in speaking to a 
Bible class here in Washington, said: "In 
the experience of a year in the Presidency 
there has come to me no other such un- 
welcome impression as the manifest reli- 
gious intolerance which exists among 
many of our citizens. I hold it to be a 
menace to the very liberties we boast and 
cherish." 

How well, from personal experience, 
do the Spiritualists realize the truth of 
this statement. How many there are, who 
have been ostracized by their friends for 
the sole crime of exercising their private 
judgment, and obeying the dictates of 
their conscience by embracing the truth of 
Spiritualism. Is not this a diabolical form 
of torture to be inflicted on sensitive and 
refined natures ? Workers in Spiritualism 
are being persistently misrepresented by 
the most powerful vehicles of information. 
In a large portion of the press, in hun- 
dreds of books, and in the pulpit, which 
should be consecrated to truth and chari- 
ty, they are the victims of the vilest 
slanders, to say nothing of the courts of 

[24] 



justice, where, when they turn for redress, 
they are met with contempt. 

Truth-givers today meet with the same 
reception they did two thousand years 
ago. Today, as then, they are called 
blasphemers, liars, and madmen. Yet, 
fortunately, despite the intolerance, the 
ignorance and bigotry of the majority, 
there have ever been a few who listened 
and followed in the footsteps of the truth 
bearer. These few have ever been the salt 
of the earth, to whom man owes all that he 
enjoys in truth and liberty today. In the 
present days there are a number who, 
under the blessings of God, are increasing 
in volume and in power, who are respond- 
ing to the influence of divine truth and it 
is to this class of enlightened thinkers that 
Spiritualism's great and sublime message 
is being realized. 

The great majority today, as in the 
past, are but worshipers of lies, and the 
darker, more smudged with ignorance and 
superstition the deeper the bow that is 
made to them. The enlightened few 
kneel at the foot of a shrine, which the 

[25] 



world says holds naught but lies, and from 
its mystic center they receive rays of the 
purest truth. They listen to the words 
spoken by those branded by the world as 
being in league with the devil, liars, 
blasphemers and madmen, and they hear 
the most sublime truths that ever fell 
upon the ear of man. They read the writ- 
ings, which the world labels as degenerate 
mysticism, the expression of diseased 
minds, and find the jewels of divine 
thought, and they realize that to be in 
league with the devil, a liar, a blasphemer 
or a madman in the world's estimation, is 
to be in reality the most illuminated, un- 
folded and inspired of men. 

May the highest blessings attend the 
so-called liars and blasphemers of the 
twentieth century, that they may give 
humanity more light, more truth and more 
liberty. 

Spiritualism proclaims to them: "Your 
light, which the world calls darkness, can 
never be blotted out, although it may be 
delayed in its expression ; your knowledge, 
which the world calls ignorance and super- 

[26] 



stition, will live, for truth can never 
perish; the glorious flame is immortal, no 
matter how many try to annihilate it. 
It would be as well to try to annihilate 
God, as truth and God are one in essence, 
for where truth is there also is God." 



I 2' 



UNIVERSAL RELIGIOX 

Spiritualism has come to establish a 
religion in which there are no souls lost 
or sleeping after death. A religion in 
which hate, jealousy and the motive of 
revenge play no part, but God's great 
love is made so manifest that all may, 
through good deeds, win the glories of 
eternity. 

A religion in which death appears in its 
true light, that of an entrance into spirit 
life, the keynote of that life being prog- 
ress, and in which man reaps what he 
sowed while in earth life. 

A religion which opens up the way for 
spirit communion, and the great blessings 
which result thereby. 

A religion in which every man is free 
to develop and express his spiritual na- 
ture and utter his best thoughts. 

A religion in which money, earthly 
power and position hold no value unless 
united with natures of nobility and good- 
ness. 

[29] 



A religion which reveals that the 
heavenly life cannot be bought, neither 
can it be attained by any kind of bribery, 
but only by the magic of effort can it be 
realized. The "open sesame' ' to the 
heavenly life is right effort directed by 
intelligent thought; this, and this alone, 
will open the way, reveal the path to the 
kingdom of the spirit, within whose gar- 
den the immortal flowers of the spirit 
bloom, whose beauty enchants the mind, 
whose fragrance enriches the heart. 

A religion which lifts the curtain man, 
in his ignorance, has hung between God 
and himself, revealing those treasures of 
the spirit, which the shifting elements of 
time cannot destroy, or thieves break in 
and steal, or moths or rust corrupt, for 
they are enshrined within the power and 
majesty of eternity. 

This is the great aim and purpose of 
Modern Spiritualism, and its destiny is 
to become the Universal Religion ac- 
cepted by all mankind regardless of race, 
creed or color. There is room in its great 
arena for all mankind; upon its sky there 

[30] 



is room for every wing; upon its sea for 
every sail; within the portals of its su- 
preme revelations there is room for all to 
dwell, to worship, and to seek that com- 
munion with the living God and His min- 
istering spirits, which results in that peace 
which passeth all earthly understanding, 



[31] 



SPIRIT COMMUNION 

There is nothing more wonderful, more 
enlightening, more comforting than to re- 
ceive communications from those who 
have passed into the realms of spirit. It 
is the great work of Modern Spiritualism 
to establish the means of spirit com- 
munion, to open wider the way through 
which the spirits can bring unto man 
their desired messages. 

The spirits of the immortal dead are 
here knocking at the heart of every man; 
they bring gifts, treasures beyond price, 
to those who will open the door and bid 
them enter. It is the mission of Spiritual- 
ism to awaken man to their presence and 
assist him to get into communication with 
them. What could be greater, grander or 
more inspiring than this — to know the be- 
loved dead live, to see them face to face, 
to hear once again their dear familiar 
voices, to feel the soft pressure of their 
arms, in other words, to know there is no 
death, but life everlasting and eternal. 

[33] 



In bringing man into personal contact 
with the immortals of the spirit world, it 
furnishes a means whereby he can receive 
their wisdom and guidance. The fruits of 
their greater experience are at his dis- 
posal. He has opened up before him a 
vast encyclopedia of wisdom from which 
he can draw the necessary knowledge to 
assist him in solving the problems of his 
existence while on earth. 

This is the vital purpose of spirit re- 
turn, to educate man. The spirits come 
to give light, to aid in the solution of the 
great problems of life here on earth, and 
to reveal the relationship which exists be- 
tween this world and the realms of spirit ; 
to inspire humanity with higher aims, and 
nobler efforts for their own good, and for 
the benefit of others. 

A man who holds communion with the 
spirit world is going to be a happier, 
stronger and more useful member of so- 
ciety for so doing. Its effects are certain 
to be constructive to him physically, men- 
tally and spiritually. 

[34] 



The purpose of Spiritualism is not only 
to preach the truth that man shall never 
die, hut prove it to the world as a fact, 
by opening up the way broader and clear- 
er through which the spirits of the so- 
called dead can communicate with those in 
the earth life. Spiritualism with its splen- 
did phenomena has annihilated the dark- 
ness that surrounded the tomb, removed 
the fear of death, and revealed in all its 
beauty, its divine splendor, the life after 
death. 



[35] 



THE BIBLE AND 
SPIRITUALISM 

"That which hath been is now; and that which 
is to be hath already been, and God requireth 
that which is past." (Ecc. 3:15.) 

Spiritualism and the Bible are in com- 
plete harmony, one vouches for the truth 
of the other. Spiritualism demonstrates 
the truth of the Bible in these modern 
days, as the Bible records the revelation 
of Spiritualism in the ancient times. 

Xo true Christian can believe the Bible 
and denounce spirit communion, as it has 
always been the connecting link between 
man and God. The Bible clearly reveals 
that it is God's plan to send his adminis- 
tering spirits to guide, inspire and help 
mankind. 

As Rev. Geo. H. Hepworth says: 
"Spiritualists have revived the ancient 
faith and boldly assert what every per- 
sonage of the Xew and every product of 
the Old Testament would assert — that 
heaven is within speaking distance, and 

[37] 



that the conscious companionship of 
angels is one of the inalienable rights of 
aspiring souls." 

From Genesis to Revelation the Bible 
furnishes strong evidence of the spirit 
world, and the intercommunion with 
spirits and mortals. From full form 
materialization, to the speaking with 
foreign tongues, they give account of all. 
The gift of prophecy, healing and the 
working of miracles. The Bible records 
how the spirits spoke through the 
prophets. How the angels ( spirits ) came 
and ministered to Jesus in the Garden of 
Gethsemane, and on the mount of trans- 
figuration came Moses and Elias, two 
men who had passed into spirit life a 
thousand years before, and talked with 
Jesus about the things which were shortly 
to happen at Jerusalem, and two came to 
Abraham and Lot and talked to them 
about what God intended to do, and these 
men were spirits. After the crucifixion 
of Jesus a young man was seen by Mary 
in the sexjulchre, and this young man was 
a spirit. 

[38] 



The account of Saul going to the 
woman of Endor is one of the strongest 
chapters in the Bible for Spiritualism. 
The woman of Endor was not a witch, but 
a medium, and the Bible speaks of her, 
calling her not a witch, but a woman. 
Samuel, appearing to Saul, proves the 
dead live, can come back to earth and can 
be identified, have knowledge of what is 
taking place on earth and retain mem- 
ories. 

From Jesus himself comes the strong- 
est evidence for Spiritualism and its 
works. When we remember what He said 
about the Spirit of Truth, which was to 
teach man after his death, "shall teach you 
all things and bring all things to your 
remembrance, whatsoever I have said 
unto you." (John 14:26.) This was to be 
the Comforter and, as we view the spirit- 
ual revelations and works of Modern 
Spiritualism, we can believe it has come 
as the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy. 

How clearly He revealed His knowl- 
edge of the spirit world when he said: "In 
my Father's house are many mansions," 

[39] 



a statement which agrees perfectly with 
all the information received through 
mediums concerning life in the spirit 
world. The text says: "Many mansions," 
not two or three different places, but 
many mansions, many planes, many 
spheres, many different kinds of work and 
accomplishment, all of which tend to 
progress and unfoldment, without which 
eternity would be dull and unthinkable. 
Then there is that command of Jesus, 
"They shall speak with new tongues." 
(Mark 16:17.) Who but a medium, who 
but a Spiritualist, could obey this com- 
mand? 

The life and works of Paul are in 
themselves a great monument to the 
power and glory of Spiritualism. He en- 
joined upon all Christians of his time to 
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is 
good." (1 Thes. 5:2.) This great apostle 
was a devoted Spiritualist. He was 
caught up to the third heaven when he 
"heard unspeakable words." (2 Cor. 
12:2.) He also had the gift of healing, 
and he heard clairaudiently the spirit voice 

[40] 



saying, "Why persecutest thou Me?" 
(Acts. 9:4.) He was a spiritual medium ; 
in the temple he said, "Even while I 
prayed in the temple I was in a trance." 
(Acts. 22:17.) He also declared that he 
knew of "an house not made with hands, 
eternal in the heavens" (2 Cor. 5:1) ; a 
revelation that comes to all true mediums. 

It is perfectly evident that the disciples 
believed, and taught, that these "signs, ' 
"works," and "gifts" were for all future 
ages; because in Acts. 2:39 Peter says: 
"For the promise is unto you, and to your 
children, and to all that are afar off, even 
as many as the Lord our God shall call." 

There is nothing in the Bible against 
true Spiritualism. There is much against 
necromancy and witchcraft; but these 
matters have no connection with Modern 
Spiritualism. Those who declare that 
Spiritualism is the work of the devil, are 
like many of the Jews who, in speaking of 
Jesus, said, "He hath a devil, and is mad; 
why hear ye him?" Others said, "These 
are not the words of him that hath a devil. 
Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?" 

[41] 



(John 10:20, 21.) So Spiritualism, by its 
works, its fruits, can be judged, and the 
judgment will be a glorious one. Jesus 
said, "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall 
know them." (Mat. 7:20.) And Spiritual- 
ists are happy in the fruits of Spiritualism 
because they heal, comfort, enlighten and 
uplift all who receive them. 

The Bible is Spiritualism's friend; the 
more we study it, the more we meditate 
upon its sublime teachings, with an open 
mind, and more clearly we see that from 
beginning to end of this sacred book there 
is revealed the ancient history of spirit 
manifestations, or in other words the 
phenomena and philosophy of what is 
known in the world today as Modern 
Spiritualism. 

"Are they not all ministering spirits 
sent to minister for them who shall be the 
heirs of salvation?" (Heb. 1:14.) 



[42] 



SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND 
MEDIUMSHIP 

One of the vital results of the teach- 
ings of Spiritualism is the development 
and use of spiritual powers, which gives 
unto man conscious and intelligent com- 
munion with the spirit world. The de- 
velopment of those spiritual faculties 
which enable him to see visions, hear 
voices, prophecy and heal the sick. 

Through the influence of Spiritualism 
there is being brought about a great 
resurrection of the spirit within man, and 
with its growth and expression comes into 
being spiritual gifts which enable him to 
feel, see and respond to the higher things 
of the spirit. 

This is one of the characteristic fea- 
tures of Spiritualism, which distinguishes 
it from other religious systems in its 
demonstration of man's spiritual nature 
and its continued existence after death by 
mediumship. 

[43] 



Mediums are those who have developed 
their spiritual powers, which enable them 
by physical and mental phenomena to 
demonstrate spirit presence, and estab- 
lish means of communion between the liv- 
ing and the so-called dead. 

Mediumship is the fulfilment of the 
words of Jesus: "If ye abide in me, and 
my words abide in you, ye shall ask what 
ye will, and it shall be done unto you." 
(John 15:7.) Jesus revealed the fact that 
he was a medium when he said, "I speak 
not of myself; but the Father that 
dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." 
(John 14:10.) More than this he says 
that all that believe shall do the same, and 
greater. "He that believeth in me, the 
works that I do shall he do also; and 
greater works than these shall he do." 
(John 14:12.) 

Paul's testimony is also distinct and 
comprehensive. He declares there are 
many gifts, besides the words of wisdom 
and of knowledge, the gift of healing, 
prophecy, working of miracles and dis- 
cerning of spirits. He brings out Strong- 
ly ] 



ly the fact that there are different kinds 
of spiritual gifts, and that "the manifes- 
tation of the Spirit is given to every man 
to profit withal." (1 Cor. 12:7.) 

The development and expression of 
mediumship today is but the realization 
of these spiritual gifts, and the fulfilment 
of the prophecy of the Bible where it 
says: "And it shall come to pass in the 
last days, saith God, I will pour out my 
Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and 
your daughters shall prophesy, and your 
young men see visions, and your old men 
shall dream dreams." (Acts. 2:17.) 

Mediumship is the foundation upon 
which Spiritualism rests; without me- 
diumship there would be no Spiritualism 
as mediums are the channel through which 
flow from the realms of spirit all power, 
revelation, truth and wisdom. They 
have ever been, in the realms of religion, 
art, music, literature and science, the 
light bearers, the pioneers, path finders 
and creators. Spiritualism owes all to its 
faithful mediums, for it is by their work 
that its truths have been revealed and 

[45] 



proven to millions. They are the ones who 
have bridged the two worlds, thereby 
bringing strength to the weak, courage to 
the down-hearted, and comfort to the sor- 
rowing. By the help of God's minister- 
ing spirits they have lifted the veil be- 
tween mortal and spirit, and brought 
about the greatest thing in the world, 
spirit communion. 

As Paul says, "there are diversities of 
gifts." Briefly an outline of these differ- 
ent phases of mediumship will now be 
given. They come under two heads, that 
of physical and mental mediumship. The 
different phases of physical mediumship 
are table tipping, raps, automatic writing, 
materialization, trumpet, independent 
voice, photography and slate writing. 
Under the heading of mental mediumship 
comes inspiration, which expresses itself 
in speaking, writing and in all forms of 
artistic work ; then we have healing, clair- 
voyance, clairaudience, intuition and psy- 
chometry. 

Mental mediumship is superior in its 
results to the physical, for the reason that 

[46] 



it does not require so many exacting con- 
ditions to express itself, therefore can be 
exercised more readily and to greater 
numbers of people at a time. Physical 
mediumship is generally limited to an at- 
tendance of a few, whereas mental phases 
can be successfully expressed before thou- 
sands of people. Then, too, mental me- 
diumship has another factor which favors 
it, as it does not require darkness for its 
expression, and is therefore not so easily 
counterfeited by impostors. 

The spirit world today is concentrating 
its efforts upon mental phases of medium- 
ship as the most useful means of convey- 
ing its great messages to the world. One 
has only to look back and compare the 
mediums of today with those of twenty 
years ago to see this change. In this city 
of "Washington twenty years ago there 
were four materializing, three trumpet, 
one independent voice and one slate writ- 
ing medium; today there is not one phys- 
ical medium in the city. Ten years ago 
one could not go to a Spiritualist summer 
camp without finding a number of physi- 

[47] 



cal mediums there, whereas today it is un- 
usual to find more than one, and in some 
camps none. 

This is a splendid thing, a decided move 
in the right direction, although physical 
mediumship is a wonderful means of 
spirit communion. It has served its great 
usefulness in attracting the attention of 
the world to the great teachings and reve- 
lations of Spiritualism. 

To heal the sick, see visions, hear voices 
and convey intelligent messages of com- 
fort, hope and advice to sorrowing mor- 
tals, to be the channel through which can 
flow the inspiration of truth's mighty 
power; this is the greatest and grandest 
work in the world. There is nothing so 
beautiful, so helpful as true mediumship 
and there is no responsibility greater than 
that of its use, a responsibility to one's 
self, one's fellow man and to God. Those 
who use it lightly in perverting its great 
powers for unworthy ends, will reap what 
they sow. They will be but spinning a 
web of trial and trouble, in which sooner 

[48] 



or later they will find themselves en- 
meshed. 

Another fact, which stands out today 
in the evolution of mediumship, is that 
the trance phases are on the wane and con- 
scious mediumship is taking their place. 
This is another move in the right direction, 
as it shows that the minds of our sensi- 
tives are developing to where they can 
consciously respond to the power and in- 
spiration of the spirits. The medium who 
works in the trance state is like a talking 
machine, through whom many different 
personalities express themselves. Con- 
scious mediumship has many advantages 
over this form, as it enables one to develop 
one's own spiritual powers and express 
them without going under spirit control. 
While it is true that many beautiful lec- 
tures and helpful messages have been 
given in the trance state, the same inspir- 
ing lectures and splendid messages can be 
given without the medium losing con- 
sciousness. 

Conscious mediumship is ever construc- 
tive in its effect upon the medium. It de- 

[49] 



velops individuality, strengthens the will, 
creates self-reliance and poise. It de- 
velops those powers of seership which re- 
sult in being able to view the past, per- 
ceive the possibilities of the present, 
prophesy the future, see visions, heal, hear 
voices demonstrate the great truths of 
spirit return and all this without losing 
consciousness, but in the full possession of 
one's own mental powers. 

The great mediums and seers of the 
past received their spirit revelations in the 
conscious state, and this is the most desir- 
able method of attaining spirit commun- 
ion. 



[50] 



POWER OF EFFORT 

Ail oriental seer tells us: "Verily, I say 
unto you; not in the heavens, not in the 
midst of the sea, not if thou hidest thyself 
away in the clefts of the mountains, wilt 
thou find a place where thou canst escape 
the fruit of thy evil actions. And at the 
same time thou art sure to receive the 
blessings of thy good actions. " It is to 
this great fact that Spiritualism seeks to 
awaken man. That he is the creator of 
his own life, and that the only way he can 
rise above, or work out, the effects of evil 
action is by doing good. As Jesus said to 
the man in the temple: "Sin no more, lest 
a worse thing come unto you," and to the 
woman: "Go, and sin no more," Spirit- 
ualism reveals the wisdom of these com- 
mands and seeks to instill into the mind 
of man today that this is the secret of sal- 
vation. To cease doing wrong and in its 
place do good. By following this line of 
conduct the problem of salvation is solved. 

It is by work man grows ; it is by work 

[51] 



he lives ; it is by work he does God's will, 
and rises into that union with the divine 
from which flows all life's greatest bless- 
ings. Spiritualism reveals the sacred of- 
fice work fills in the destiny of man, the 
magic of effort, by which he rises to the 
full consciousness of his innate divinity. 

Spiritualism therefore does not appeal 
to the lazy man, who seeks something for 
nothing; who wishes to attain God's king- 
dom through the sacrifice and effort of 
another. It does not appeal to those who 
are under the illusion that salvation is 
something to be bought or gained by 
means of bribery. It has no attraction for 
the sinner, who delights in his sin and 
clings to it as a beggar does his rags, but 
looks forward to complete salvation, by 
accepting, on his death bed, certain re- 
ligious formula which he believes will for- 
ever wipe out the deep stain upon his soul 
of long years of sinning. 

It does not interest the rich man who, 
under the illusion of wealth and what it 
can buy in this world, believes it has the 
power to buy salvation in the life after 

[52] 



death. He lives as he pleases, gratifies all 
his worldly lusts and ambitions,, does not 
hesitate to sacrifice all that come in his 
way to attain his own ends, but believes 
that upon his passing from this world he 
can atone for all wrong doing by leaving 
a large sum of money to some religious or- 
ganization. He imagines that when he 
enters into the spirit world, and is able to 
announce that he has given a large sum of 
money to some church, that it will be an 
"open sesame" to the kingdom of heaven 
for him. 

To those who are under the impression 
that works count for little, faith alone is 
great, Spiritualism will hold little attrac- 
tion. Although faith is vital and nothing 
of real importance can be accomplished 
without it, yet it is weak and unproductive 
unless united with work. The Bible re- 
veals quite clearly the only method of real 
salvation when it says: "Work out your 
own salvation" (Phil. 2:12), and "Even 
so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, 
being alone" (James 2:17). And again: 
"For as the body without the spirit is 

[53] 



dead, so faith without works is dead also" 
(James 2:26). 

The lazy, the stupid, the ignorant, the 
lotus eaters of life, will not be drawn to 
Spiritualism; only the intelligent, the 
thinkers, the active workers and creators 
of life will respond to its divine principles, 
and be inspired by its teachings to still 
greater effort. 

Jesus, again and again, in his message, 
brings out the importance of effort in re- 
lationship, not only to conduct in this 
world, but also in connection with salva- 
tion in the next. He tells us: "And every 
one that heareth these sayings of mine, 
and doeth them not, shall be likened unto 
a foolish man, which built his house upon 
the sand. And the rain descended, and 
the floods came, and the winds blew, and 
beat upon that house; and it fell; and 
great was the fall of it" (Mat. 7:26 27). 
In this statement, too, he reveals the su- 
preme power of effort: "Not every one 
that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter 
into the kingdom of heaven; but he that 

[54] 



doeth the will of my father which is in 
heaven" (Mat. 7:21). 

Paul, too, realized the potency of work. 
He tells us: "Be not deceived; God is not 
mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, 
that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6:7) . Then, 
too, he says: "For every man shall bear 
his own burden" (Gal. 6:5), In James 
we read: "But be ye doers of the word, 
and not hearers only, deceiving your own 
selves" (James 1:22). 

The great reward is not given to faith 
merely, nor to hope, nor to merely accept- 
ing certain religious forms and cere- 
monies, nor to belonging to a certain 
church, but only "according as his work 
shall be," and naturally if the reward is to 
be great the work must be great also. 

Those people who, like the lilies of field, 
sow not, neither do they spin, and yet they 
expect all the glories of heaven to greet 
them upon leaving this life, merely be- 
cause they have done no evil while here on 
earth, do not seem to realize they have 
committed a sin, the effects of which will 

[55] 



greatly affect their spiritual destiny, and 
that is the sin of omission. 

To do no evil is not enough, this is but 
a negative virtue which produces nothing, 
but to do good; here we have a positive 
virtue which is constructive. Those peo- 
ple who pride themselves on their virtuous 
lives, merely because they have committed 
no vital wrong, will no doubt be greatly 
surprised to find upon entering the spirit 
world, the kind of conditions which sur- 
round them. For, just as surely as we 
will reap what we sow, be it good or be 
it evil, so will we, if we sow nothing, reap 
nothing. 

To live is to work, to do, to accomplish. 
As Baily says: "We live in deeds, not 
years ; in thoughts, not breaths ; in feeling, 
not in figures on a dial. We count time 
by heart throbs. He lives most who 
thinks most, feels the noblest and acts the 
best." 

Spiritualism is the religion of work, the 
worship of which is effort, prayer put into 
practice, good thoughts, high aspirations 
actualized, in daily conduct. 

[56] 



REBIRTH 

Spiritualism reveals the truth of re- 
embodiment by the testimony of the 
spirits themselves, who tell us of their 
past lives, and reveal the method by 
which Ave can discover our own. 

The revelations, which this knowledge 
brings, are that each soul is a part of God, 
that it contains all possibilities, as a seed 
contains the germ of the plant; that by 
repeated existences in earthly bodies these 
latent powers are slowly unfolded until 
the fully developed soul, ripened by the 
various experiences of its earthly lives, 
completes its schooling in the flesh and 
rises to the spiritual heights of peace and 
power in the spirit world. 

This great truth of rebirth offers a rea- 
sonable solution of all the inequalities of 
life, its sorrows and pains. It reveals the 
workings of the mighty law of cause and 
effect. It declares that whatsoever a 
man sows he reaps. In the Light of Asia 
there is a little verse which says : 

[57] 



"Who toiled a slave may come anew a Prince 
For gentle worthiness and merit won; 
Who ruled a King may wander earth in rags 
For things done and undone." 

It brings great comfort, for it reveals 
that divine justice controls life; that there 
are no such things as luck or chance, but 
all is the result of law. It implies that 
man can become the master of his destiny, 
as he brings with him into this present 
life the results of his own individual past, 
being what he made himself, therefore 
holds within himself the power to shape 
his future by the kind of thoughts he 
thinks today, the nature of his present 
deeds. 

All the sacred books reveal the truth of 
this great fact, and the wise men of all 
ages have accepted it from the ancient 
philosophers down to the thinkers of the 
present day. 

Jesus clearly reveals the truth of re- 
birth when, in referring to John the Bap- 
tist, he says: "If ye will receive it, this is 
Elias which was to come. He that hath 
ears to hear, let him hear." (Mat. 11:14, 
15.) By following up his statement with 

[58] 



the expression "he that hath ears let him 
hear," lets us see that he realized that 
there would be many not able to under- 
stand, or accept, his statement. Only 
those who were spiritually enlightened 
would be able to realize or comprehend it. 

Some Spiritualists object to this belief 
and do not accept it, because they are 
looking forward to a happy reunion in the 
spirit world with their loved ones, and 
think this longed-for meeting would be 
prevented. This, however, need not stand 
in the way of one accepting this truth, as 
between lives on earth hundreds of years 
elapse, during which time the spirit re- 
mains in the spirit world enjoying the 
companionship of its loved ones who, in 
many instances, return to earth with it to 
work out another life in matter, to gain 
new experiences, to do some great and 
good work which will be of untold value 
to them upon entering the spirit world 
again. 

Nothing can really separate those who 
really love each other, and those earthly 
relationships which are founded upon true 

[59] 



love, real friendship, mental response and 
understanding will never be broken but 
grow more and more beautiful with the 
passing of time; only those relationships 
which are founded upon the false founda- 
tions of greed, lust and worldly ambition 
are broken asunder. 

As Spiritualism becomes more univer- 
sally excepted, and the conditions by 
which spirits manifest and assist mortals 
becomes stronger, then to a certain extent 
the need of rebirth will be done away 
with, as spirits can gain the necessary ex- 
perience, do the needed work, with the co- 
operation of mortals, without having to 
go through the channel of rebirth in the 
flesh again. Here is revealed another 
great advantage of Spiritualism, as it not 
only assists mortals but helps spirits to 
gain here on earth needed experiences, 
and do a work which otherwise would be 
impossible unless they took on a body of 
flesh again. 

This earth is like a great gymnasium 
for the spirit to exercise its spiritual 
muscles of power and wisdom, to grow, to 

[60] 



develop its character, to gain further ex- 
periences, to go on with some work 
started in a previous life, or to start some 
great mission in the present one. This 
life on earth is the great school where the 
spirit learns the lessons of existence which 
will enable it to enjoy, and appreciate, 
the glories of the eternal world of spirit. 
It furnishes the kind of experiences, trials 
and tribulations which initiate the spirit 
into the divine truths of the spiritual life. 
It furnishes the ground for the sowing of 
the seed the harvest of which the spirit 
reaps in all its fullness in the life beyond. 
We are all on our way to God's king- 
dom, that Mecca of our high aims and as- 
pirations; these earthly lives, some short, 
some long, some filled with trouble and 
sorrow, others rich with success and hap- 
piness, some in which we apparently have 
nothing, others when the riches and glories 
of the world are at our feet, all these vary- 
ing experiences are like so many different 
colored stones out of which a mosaic pic- 
ture is to be created; so behind all these 
changing forms and expressions and ex- 

[61] 



periences the spirit finally creates a splen- 
did plan, forms the foundation and rears 
the structure which is to last eternally in 
the heavens. 

All great souls are old souls, old in 
knowledge and experience which is the re- 
sult of previous lives on earth. Nothing 
explains genius so logically, so clearly, as 
the truth of rebirth, for it shows that all 
great talent, when it is expressed at an 
early age, is the fruit of past effort and 
labor in some previous life. It reveals that 
everything is the result of effort, that 
nothing of real value is ever given away, 
but all that is real and splendid in life's 
expression is the result of honest labor. 

How unfair, how unjust is the idea that 
God gave to some great gifts of talent, 
while to others He gave nothing. How 
splendid and encouraging, how just to 
God, and fair to man, is the truth that 
God blesses all mankind with divine gifts 
and great possibilities but expects man to 
find them within himself and thereby de- 
velop and express them for his own good 
and the benefit of his fellow man. 

[62] 



When one comes into the realization of 
this great truth of rebirth he holds the key 
to all the problems and mysteries of life, 
he can see the meaning behind life's vary- 
ing experiences, he can see divine justice 
at work. He can perceive the mighty law 
of cause and effect continually in opera- 
tion. 

This great truth shows that all suffer- 
ing comes from self, all trouble rises 
through our own mistakes, that the cause 
of all these outer things, which play a 
part in our life, lies within ourselves and 
that when we get right within ourselves 
we will find the outer world will adjust 
itself to harmonize with our inner state 
of peace and power. 



[63] 



RIGHT PRIXCIPLE 

Spiritualism promotes morality, and re- 
veals the importance of living an honest 
upright life while on earth. "Whatso- 
ever a man soweth that shall he also reap" 
is a fundamental principle of the teach- 
ings of Spiritualism. 

This great religion has come to restore 
the rule of right principle to the world, to 
arouse the still small voice of the spirit 
within man, to awaken him to the realities 
of life, the magic of love, the power of 
effort, the beauty of faith, the glory of 
truth and the power of wisdom. 

It has come to free man from the illu- 
sions of life, which tempt and lure him 
ever on to false heights, which, even if he 
attains, he is doomed to fall. How clear- 
ly history reveals the fate of all who fol- 
lowed the will-o'-the-wisp of earthly 
power and worldly ambition. Omar 
Khayyam expressed this fact well when 
he said: 

[65] 



"The worldly hope men set their hearts upon 
Turns ashes — or it prospers; and enon, 
Like snow upon the desert's dusty face 
Lighting a little hour or two — is gone." 

This life, at best, is so short there is so 
little time for progress; how foolish to 
waste one's time in gathering things to- 
gether that, when death comes, must be 
left behind. To see how some people 
hoard up money one would think they ex- 
pected to live on earth a thousand years. 
To see how they seek, not only wealth, but 
power and position, and in doing so, in 
many instances, sacrifice the real and 
eternal things, to gain — what? — things 
which the touch of death will make vanish 
into nothingness ; when all the splendor of 
unfathomed seas of space, all the un- 
limited possibilities of the soul are for the 
attainment of those who will see the reali- 
ties of life. 

Spiritualism has come to show man 
things not as they appear, not as he may 
desire them to be, but as they are. It takes 
him close up to the settings on life's stage 
of worldly success and shows him the 

[66] 



scenery which, under the light effect of 
error and illusion, appears so attractive, 
but which, when viewed by the searching 
light of truth, is but tawdry tinsel devoid 
of all real and substantial beauty. So, in 
tearing the veil of glamor and illusion 
from things, and revealing them as they 
really are, man will be able to discrimi- 
nate, to turn from and reject that which 
is destructive, and choose and accept that 
which is good and helpful. 

The great need in the world today is 
that of regulating the standard of suc- 
cess by right principle, and the under- 
standing of true values. Many men are 
seeking what they believe to be pure gold 
who will wake up some time to find it 
valueless. 

Jesus said: "As a man thinketh in his 
heart so is he," therefore, if a man seeks 
soulless things he becomes soulless also 
and, as he turns his attention to the sub- 
lime realities of life, he becomes like unto 
them, he grows in accordance with them, 
and he reflects in his life, his work, some- 

[67] 



thing of their beauty, something of their 
power. 

Spiritualism teaches the value of an aim 
in life, a high ideal towards which to con- 
centrate one's effort, and the more that 
aim harmonizes with universal good, the 
more it partakes of the power of the in- 
finite spirit; the more vital, the more 
creative it will be. To know the good, and 
seek to attain it, is the secret of a truly 
successful life ; all else is of no value, and 
effort put forth to attain it is energy 
wasted. 



[68] 



FREE WILL 

The controversy on this important sub- 
ject has generally been on the ground that 
either man enjoyed the power of free will 
or did not possess it — one side declaring 
man never had, and never would, enjoy 
the rights of free will, the other side de- 
claring he possessed free will. To say man 
is bound by forces which control his life 
absolutely, over which he has no power, 
or on the other hand declare man is wholly 
free, are statements which are too dog- 
matic and do not reflect truth. 

August Forel reveals what a complex 
thing the mind of man is in his follow- 
ing statement; "Every effect has its 
cause, and all our resolutions are the re- 
sult of the activities of our brain, in their 
turn determined or influenced by heredi- 
tary engrams (instincts and dispositions), 
or acquired (memories) which are the in- 
ternal causes, and combined with causes 
acting from without." 

[69] 



In speaking of the freedom of the will, 
Linn A. E. Gale says: "I never claimed 
that man always had free will. I do not 
claim that he has absolute free will in most 
cases even now. But I do claim that man 
potentially possesses free will and that 
free will is a faculty which develops with 
the increased use of it. I believe that there 
is within man something — whether you 
call it mind, spirit, force, electricity, does 
not matter particularly — that is capable 
of controlling environment completely." 
This statement agrees with the teachings 
of Spiritualism on this important subject. 

Spiritualism seeks to reveal that free 
will is not something possessed by every 
one today, but reveals it as a possibility 
for all, when all will make the effort and 
create the conditions which attain it. 
Those who are determined to be free, to 
no longer be the slaves of heredity, en- 
vironment or other limiting conditions, 
will call into being a force by whose 
power they can finally succeed in over- 
coming the influences of these conditions 
which hold them in bondage. Man will 

[70] 



enjoy free will to the extent he develops 
his mind, practices self-control, and be- 
comes awakened to the forces of his sub- 
conscious mind, whose influence is a po- 
tent force in assisting him to gain his 
freedom. 

The subconscious mind, as its name im- 
plies, is a sub-mind, whose only entrance 
is through the consciousness. It is a vast 
reservoir of ideas, and emotions contain- 
ing the impressions of one's hopes and 
fears, the sum substance of one's experi- 
ences. This mind cannot reason, but ac- 
cepts all impressions which are given to 
it, and is ever open to suggestion ; this fact 
enables one to influence it, creating in it 
only those ideas the effect of which will 
be constructive to conduct and life. The 
man who is in bondage, held by doubts 
and fears, limited by wasteful passions, 
must train this deeper mind to set him 
free and to reveal greater and richer op- 
portunities of achievement. 

The realization of one's free will is no 
slight task, but, on the contrary, one of 
the greatest and most difficult accomplish- 

[71] 



ments of life, which requires many years 
of patient, intelligent and persistent ef- 
fort, but it must be remembered that it is 
the great goal of life open to all who will 
make the effort to attain it, and the re- 
wards are so great that the prize is worthy 
of the struggle. 

One has only to look around to see how 
far humanity is from attaining this great 
goal. Most people are but puppets, and 
enjoy little real freedom. Sex and am- 
bition generally pull the strings. As long 
as one is under the control of the sex de- 
sire, the greed for worldly power and am- 
bition, he does not know the meaning of 
the word freedom. 

Spiritualism is the gospel of hope, self- 
reliance and courage. It preaches the 
power of the spirit within man. It says 
to man, you can be what you will to be; 
you may be sick but you can be well, you 
may be poor but you can possess plenty, 
you may be ignorant but you can be 
learned, you may be a slave to some dis- 
tructive habit but you possess within your- 
self a power by which you can master it. 

[72] 



Spiritualism reveals man as the archi- 
tect of his destiny and the master of his 
fate. He is the builder, the creator of 
his own nature. He is either his own 
worst enemy, tyrant and oppressor on the 
one hand, or his friend, liberator and re- 
deemer on the other. 

The powers of the spirit, the forces of 
the developed and unfolded soul, reveal 
man, not as a slave to blind chance, a 
pawn in the hands of a cruel fate, but a 
being gifted by God, with a will to be free, 
the power of choosing, of discriminating 
between that which is good and that which 
is evil, and Spiritualism has come to 
awaken man to this glorious fact, and re- 
veal unto him the way and means of its 
attainment. 



[73] 



RELIGIOX OF LIBERTY 

Spiritualism might well be called the 
Religion of Liberty, because there is 
nothing in it to enslave the mind, or limit 
one's expression of truth. Liberty is the 
priceless boon men have ever made the 
greatest sacrifice for. The French Con- 
vention gave a splendid definition of 
liberty which is "the liberty of one citizen 
ceases only where the liberty of another 
citizen commences." The greatest liberty 
to be enjoyed is mental freedom. There 
is nothing better than a free mind, free 
from all the debris of narrow predjudice, 
ignorance and superstition; free from 
envy, hate and fear, those tyrants who 
continually torment the minds in which 
they dwell; free from all that would 
blight, darken and destroy. 

Spiritualism stands for liberty of 
thought, free thought, and free thought 
alone, gives us truth, and no man is free 
who allows another to do his thinking for 
him. 

[75] 



Before a large gathering of business 
men here in Washington recently, a presi- 
dent of one of the National Banks de- 
plored the fact that so few men thought 
for themselves; he declared: "Statistices 
show that 10 per cent of the men in the 
United States do the thinking for the 
other 90 per cent." If 10 per cent of the 
men in this country do the thinking for 
the other 90 per cent in regard to business 
and politics, we are quite safe in assert- 
ing that 1 per cent do the thinking for 99 
per cent in regard to religious matters, 
and this holds good not only in this coun- 
try but throughout the entire world. 

If it is important that a man think for 
himself in regard to business and political 
conditions, then is it not more vital that 
he exercise the same privilege in regard 
to the greatest of all subjects — that 
knowledge which concerns his immortal 
spirit? This knowledge is of so vital a 
nature that it not only influences this life 
he lives on earth, but affects his destiny 
in the life to come. 

[76] 



When we realize how few there are who 
think for themselves we can see that this 
is the cause of much of the ignorance, 
misery and sin in the world. The great 
and only remedy is for man to rouse him- 
self and assume the responsibility of 
thinking for himself, thereby ceasing to be 
a puppet in the hands of other minds, but, 
in rising to a personal declaration of in- 
dependence, come into the true manhood 
of his being. 

It might be somewhat different if the 
1 per cent, who control the thinking of the 
other 99 per cent in regard to religious 
matters, were truly enlightened as to the 
vital facts of man's existence here in this 
life, and that life which follows death. In 
most cases they are not, they do not even 
agree among themselves as to what is true 
and what is not, and what is essential and 
what is not, concerning life here and here- 
after. If questioned by those desiring 
truth they mechanically utter ideas which 
they in turn were taught to accept as facts 
years ago, as an English writer said: "A 
bishop keeps saying at eighty what he was 

[77] 



told to say when he was a boy of 
eighteen." While this could not be said 
of all churchmen, it does apply to a great 
many. 

Spiritualism has come to awaken man 
to the importance of doing his own think- 
ing, and opens wide the way through 
which, by personal experience, which is 
the greatest of all teachers, he may dis- 
cover the real, the true, unalterable facts 
concerning his spirit and its glorious 
destiny. 

Spiritualism recognizes man as a think- 
ing being, with the God-given power of 
thinking for himself. God gave man a 
mind to use, and it should be his main 
business to exercise it in solving all the 
problems of his existence. Man was 
created to think for himself; there is no 
liberty, no manhood, no education, no 
mental or spiritual progress unless one 
thinks for himself. All the great world 
saviors, liberators and benefactors were 
men of free minds, who dared to think for 
themselves. They were free thinkers. 
They were the men who were not affected 

[78] 



or psychologized by the narrow, dogmatic, 
religious systems of the time in which they 
lived. 

Jesus is a great example of what a free 
thinker really is; he was free and taught 
liberty. He did not allow the opinions of 
those in power to affect his utterance, or 
his teachings. He taught what he knew 
to be true, despite the fact that his mes- 
sage did not agree with the teachings of 
the organized religion of that time. He 
sought not only to free men from false 
religious beliefs, but from disease, in fact 
all that would have a tendency to hold 
them down and limit their progress. We 
find, as we study the lives of all great 
men, that, like Jesus, they were all free 
mentally and did not accept the ideas of 
others unless they responded to their own 
reason and intuition. 

Emerson tell us "the highest merit we 
ascribe to Moses, Plato and Milton is that 
they set at naught books and traditions, 
and spoke not what men, but what they 
thought." A questioning mind is a 
healthy mind; the one that takes every - 

[79] 



thing for granted is not alive; the mind 
that wants to know, desires truth, asks 
questions, craves knowledge, thinks for 
itself is exercising its divine right. 

Spiritualism is the religion for the free 
thinker, it encourages free thinking, it as- 
sists man to break down the bars of 
ignorance and open wide the windows of 
his soul to truth's mighty light, to come 
out of the prison house of fear and super- 
stition into that liberty which crowns 
knowledge. As light is the enemy of 
darkness, so truth destroys error, and in 
the teachings of Spiritualism the white 
searching light of truth annihilates 
ignorance, dissolves superstition, and re- 
veals life, here and hereafter, as it really is. 

The sublime purpose of Spiritualism is 
to bring salvation to man, to bring truth, 
love and wisdom, for these things are of 
the eternal spirit and can save humanity. 
Spiritualism will save the world because 
it will educate the world. 

Truth is infinite, eternal ; it can no more 
be bound to the rule and measure of a few 
people than the sunshine can be bottled 

[80] 



up. Spiritualism is as broad as truth and 
high as God, and all the splendor of the 
infinite illuminates it, and its revelations 
bring an inspiration, an incentive to 
greater progress and unfoldment for all 
mankind. 

When man thinks for himself he opens 
up those resources of his inner nature, 
wherein, as Jesus expressed it, the king- 
dom of heaven lies. This glorious possi- 
bility lies within the reach of every man, 
but it can only be attained through the 
development of his spiritual and mental 
faculties, and using them independently 
of what other people think or say. 

It is of no importance what the world 
thinks, as the world's opinion is generally 
wrong; public opinion, the opinion of the 
crowd, the herd idea is in most cases the 
last thought to allow one's self to be in- 
fluenced by. It is this opinion, which has 
invariably been a clog in the wheels of 
progress, which has ever been the first to 
cry to the light bearer, the teacher of hu- 
manity, "crucify him," and its trail is 
marked by the blood of the world's great- 

[81] 



est thinkers, who have been sacrificed to 
its blind hate, superstition and ignorance. 

Socrates poisoned, Jesus crucified, Paul 
beheaded, Galileo imprisoned, Joan of 
Arc burned at the stake, are a few ex- 
amples of the stupidity, the cruel and in- 
human work of public opinion, and every 
time we find this opinion has been created 
and fanned into its terrible expression by 
the religious system which happened at 
the time to be in power. Religion — the 
one thing that should be the means of con- 
veying life's greatest blessings — what 
crimes have been committed in t"hy sacred 
name; what heartaches, misery, bloodshed 
and war have been caused by thy false and 
unholy representatives ? 

How beautiful, inspiring and supreme 
is that religion which offers man the divine 
right of using his own mind, awakening 
his own spiritual powers, and coming into 
harmonious relation with the ministering 
spirits of that higher world direct. To no 
longer have to depend upon other minds 
to receive God's light dimly, as through a 
darkened window, but in opening one's 

['82] 



consciousness receive the sunlight of the 
divine presence direct. 

If man is to ascend to the heights, where 
peace and power abide, it will only be by 
listening to the still small voice of his 
awakening soul. Then, and then only, 
will he receive the counsel, the divine 
guidance which will show him the way. 
Spiritualism declares that the same voice 
that spoke to Buddha in his palace, 
Socrates in the streets of Athens, and to 
Jesus on the banks of Galilee, is speaking 
today and those that will listen will hear 
its voice, and be blessed by following its 
promptings. 

Spiritualism tells man to love liberty 
and truth, demand it with the same per- 
sistent effort you crave food, for, as food 
nourishes the body, liberty and truth de- 
velop the soul. Be self-reliant, independ- 
ent, think for yourself, realize you are a 
child of God and demand your divine 
birthright; seek your soul's inheritance, 
and power, truth and understanding will 
crown you. 

[83] 



CONQUEST OF FEAR 

Spiritualism has come to remove fear 
from the heart of man ; it does away with 
that old religious belief, which was satu- 
rated with envy, hatred, gloom and fear, 
and in its place puts a religion of love, 
peace, courage, power and truth. 

In the beginning man's religion was one 
of fear. He feared all things. The ele- 
ments of nature he looked upon as spirit- 
ual beings, whose wrath he must appease 
in order to gain their favor and protec- 
tion. He saw in the summer thunder 
storm the image of a giant God, and in 
its flash of lightning and roar of thunder 
he perceived the anger of this mighty 
being. In fact, he feared all things be- 
cause he did not understand the universe 
or its manifestations; so he worshipped 
his Gods in fear, and even today in our 
modern Christianity man worships God 
in a love mingled with fear. That the 
Creator does not wish to be feared is ex- 
pressed in the Bible in many different 

[85] 



places, such as the following: "For God 
hath not given us the spirit of fear, but 
of power and love, and of a sound 
mind." (2. Tim. 1:7.) 

The fear of God! The fear of the devil! 
The fear of death! Surrounded by this 
trinity of fears man exists in a life of 
dread and gloom. All this is changed 
through the revelations of Modern 
Spiritualism, as it reveals a God of love, 
in which man lives, moves and has his 
being, the devil as but the undeveloped 
part of man's nature, which expresses it- 
self in ignorance, selfishness, something 
to be overcome within one's self, and 
death as an entrance into a better world, 
where life is eternal, where peace and 
power abide. 

The Bible tells us "He that loveth not, 
knoweth not God, for God is love." (John 
4:8.) The spirit of fear is of the devil, 
whom Jesus says is the father of lies, or, 
in other words, is the product of ignorance 
and superstition. Spiritualism has come 
to bring the spirit of love and power to 
humanity. It is this love which casteth 

[86] 






out all fear, for as the Bible says: "There 
is no fear in love; but perfect love 
casteth out fear; because fear hath tor- 
ment. He that feareth, is not made per- 
fect in love." (John 4:18.) 

There must be no fear in the highest 
religion, fear must play no part in its 
teachings, or be blended in any form of 
its worship. Love must be the keynote of 
its expression, and peace, power and 
truth will flow from it as light emanates 
from the sun. 

The teachings and revelations of 
Modern Spiritualism are like a loving 
hand drawing the curtain, which man's 
ignorance has hung between God and 
himself, that the divine light of truth may 
shine upon him, clothing him with im- 
mortal power, and revealing to him that 
God is love, and, as he allows love within 
his own being to manifest itself in pure 
thoughts and good deeds, he will become 
God-like, not only in love, but in power, 
in wisdom and in truth. 

In removing fear from the heart of 
man Spiritualism does humanity the 

[87] 



greatest service, as it annihilates a cause 
from which many evils spring, whose ef- 
fects hold man in bondage. 

Jesus tells us "as a man thinketh in his 
heart so is he." This statement reveals 
the importance of our mental states. 
Thoughts of fear are ever destructive to 
the individual who holds them, as when 
fired by a vivid imagination they become 
creative and attract to the person the ma- 
terial, conditions out of which the feared 
thing becomes a reality. It makes no dif- 
ference what form the fear thoughts take ; 
whether they be imaged as the devil, evil 
spirits, disease, death, poverty, disaster or 
failure, they are all destructive to our 
peace of mind, our health, our progress 
and unfoldment physically, mentally and 
spiritually. 

Spiritualism is the religion of courage, 
of the realization that good is stronger 
than evil, that truth is mightier than error, 
and that right thinking will lift one above 
the enslaving and demoralizing influence 
of fear. 

[88] 



Those who believe in a devil, who is as 
strong, if not stronger, than God; those 
who believe in the potency of evil spirits, 
naturally have much fear in their hearts, 
but when they awaken to the great fact, 
as Baily so well expresses it, "all are devils 
to themselves, and every man his own 
great foe," thev will break the illusion, see 
the cause of their troubles lies within 
themselves, and thereby be able to remedy 
them. 

The only enemy that a man possesses 
that is real and vital is his own ignorance. 
The evil that lies within his own heart is 
real ; it must be overcome, it must be edu- 
cated into good. This is the great work of 
life, the transformation of the lower to 
the higher, the magic alchemy of chang- 
ing evil into good, making ignorance 
learned. Knowledge is the magic wand, 
whose potent power finally brings about 
the transformation. 

All the material, out of which heaven 
can be created, or hell built, is found with- 
in man. Fear is the arch fiend, whose in- 
fluence rouses all the terrors of hell ; truth 

[89] 



and reason banish these shadows, quench 
the fires, calm the mind and enthrone 
peace and power within the consciousness. 

This celestial state of mind is heaven in- 
deed, as Baily so well expresses it: "All 
things that speak of heaven speak of 
peace. Peace hath more might than war. 
High brows are calm. Great thoughts 
are like the stars, and truths, like suns, 
stir not, though many systems tend round 
them." 

If Modern Spiritualism did no more 
than remove fear out of the minds of those 
who accepted its teachings, its service to 
humanity would be of supreme value. 

There are some who allow fear to keep 
them out of Spiritualism, and prevent 
them from developing mediumship. That 
these fears are largely groundless is the 
testimony of all Spritualists and mediums 
who have intelligently investigated and 
exercised their spiritual powers under 
proper guidance. 

As far as danger is concerned, there is 
an element of danger in every thing in 
life which is of any value to humanity. 

[90] 



Existence itself is fraught with dangers 
from the cradle to the grave. Air, fire, 
water, gas, and electricity are all danger- 
ous, yet it would be folly to refuse to use 
these great forces, some of which are nec- 
essary to our existence. Risk and danger 
are connected with every vital experience 
and every wonderful adventure in life, so 
to allow fear of danger keep one from 
sharing the privileges and advantages of 
Spiritualism is absurd. 

The enemies of Spiritualism, who are 
continually warning people of its dangers, 
are like the so-called wise men of the time 
of Columbus, who warned him not to go 
to sea in search of the unknown country, 
because the world was flat, and he would 
come to the edge where great and terrible 
monsters would devour him, and as these 
fears were wholly the product of their 
ignorance, so today those who warn man 
of the great dangers which threaten all 
who venture to set sail upon the sea of 
occult investigation are, too, under the 
illusion of their ignorance, the spell cast 
by their own fears. 

[91] 



As to the so-called great dangers of 
mediumship, if there is anyone who 
knows whether mediumship is dangerous 
or not it is the medium, and all mediums 
agree that its effects are ever constructive 
to the individual physically, mentally and 
spiritually. One has only to begin to de- 
velop their mediumistic powers to see the 
good effects which come from their proper 
use. There comes a realization of greater 
physical strength, mental power and all 
nervous, or any other unpleasant physical 
condition, gradually departs and their at- 
tending ills are overcome. 

These splendid powers of mediumship 
are growing rapidly among the intelligent 
people of the world, and, to one medium 
before the public, there are thousands who, 
in the quiet of their own homes, for them- 
selves, their family, and a few friends are 
receiving wonderful messages from their 
spirit dear ones. 

One has only to review the lives of well 
known people, who developed and ex- 
pressed their mediumship, to find its ef- 
fects are ever helpful and constructive. To 

[92] 



mention a few there is the case of Rev. 
Stainton Moses, known for many years 
to the reading public as M. A. Oxon, 
editor of Light, the London journal. He 
developed his gift of automatic writing 
and supplied with verbal teachings, which 
were published under the title of "Spirit 
Teachings." Here is a work which does 
great credit to mediumship and Spiritual- 
ism. William T. Stead, one of the bright- 
est of English journalists, was a medium 
through whom, by means of automatic 
writing, the spirit Julia gave very remark- 
able and beautiful messages, all marked 
by earnestness and purity of moral tone. 
Mr. Stead illustrates the helpful and con- 
structive effects of true mediumship upon 
the individual. 

Dr. I. K. Funk in his book, "The 
Widow's Mite," says: "The officers of the 
Society for Psychical Research tells us 
that Mrs. Piper, after sixteen years of 
service for them as a trance medium, 
seems now to possess a stronger and better 
individuality and better mental and physi- 
cal health." 

[93] 



If space would allow a number of cases 
could be mentioned, showing beyond the 
shadow of doubt that the development and 
proper use of mediumship becomes not 
only a blessing to the medium himself, but 
also becomes the means of conveying great 
comfort and enlightenment to countless 
others. 



[94] 



TESTIMONY OF DISTINGUISH- 
ED MEN AXD WOMEN 

Hesiod, one of the earliest poets of 
Greece : 

"Wrapped in fluid like envelopes rendering them 
invisible, souls of the righteous wander over the 
earth wielding their regal powers. They mark the 
good and evil deeds and they extend their special 
protection to such as they loved in life." 

Confucius, the great Chinese sage: 

"They (the spirits of ancestors) are everywhere 
about us. above us. to right, to left; and they en- 
compass us on all sides. These spirits, however, 
for all they are subtle and imperceptible, make 
themselves manifest in corporeal forms of being." 

Socrates, the Athenian philosopher, in 
his speech at Athens, defending himself in 
the trial, said: 

"Perhaps, however, it may appear absurd, that 
I going about thus advise you in private and make 
myself busy, but never venture to present myself 
in public before your assemblies and give advice 
to the city. The cause of this is that which you 
have often and in many places heard me mention; 
because I am moved by a certain divine and spirit- 
ual influence. . . . This began with me from 
childhood, being a kind of voice which, when pres- 
ent, always diverts me from what I am going to 

[95] 



do, but never urges me on. This it is which op- 
posed my meddling in public politics." 

Porphyrius, one of the greatest Neopla- 
tonist philosophers, said: 

"On descending into our atmosphere the spirits 
become subject to the laws and influences that 
rule mankind." 

Plutarch, a prolific writer of the 
Graeco-Roman period, said: 

"Why should we seek to deprive these souls that 
are still in the body (human beings) of that 
power by which the former (freed spirits) know 
future events, and are able to announce them? Is 
it not probable that the soul gains a new power of 
prophecy after separation from the body, and 
which it did not possess before? We may rather 
conclude that it had all its powers, though in a 
lesser perfection, during its union with the body." 

Philip Melancthon, the reformer, said: 

"I have myself seen spirits, and I know many 
trustworthy persons who affirm that they have not 
only seen them, but carried on conversation with 
them." 

Emanuel Swedenborg, the spiritual 
seer, said: 

"I have been permitted to converse with all 

whom I have known in this life of the body 

They wished me to say that they were not dead 
but alive, being men now just the same as before, 
and they had only migrated from one world to 

[96] 



another; and that they were not conscious of hav- 
ing lost anything, since they were in the body and 
in the possession of bodily senses as before and in 
the enjoyment of understanding, sensations and 
desires, similar to those which they had in the 
world." 

John Wesley, founder of the Metho- 
dist Church, says: 

"Whenever evil spirits assail us in soul or in 
body, the good are at least equally strong, equally 
wise, and equally vigilant. God in all ages used 
the ministry not alone of men, but of angels, de- 
fecting the range, the malice, the substlety of evil 

spirits They assist us in our search after 

truth, remove many doubts and difficulties, throw 
light on what was dark and obscure, and confirm 
us in truth, that is after godliness." 

Immanuel Kent, the great philosopher, 
said: 

"At some future day — I cannot say when and 
where — it will be proved that the human soul is, 
while in earth life, already in an uninterruped 
communication with those living in another world; 
that the human soul can act upon those beings, and 
receive, in return, impressions of them without 
being conscious of it in the ordinary personality." 

Henry Ward Beecher said: 

"There have been times in which I do declare to 
you that heaven was more real than earth, in which 
my children that were gone spoke more plainly 
to me than mv children that were with me. These 



glimpses of the future state are a great comfort 
and consolation to all those who are looking for 
the development of perfect manhood. It is gen- 
erally admitted from the beginning of things this 
world has been open to the influence of spirits. 
That false notions have arisen during all ages con- 
cerning Spiritualism does not prove its fallacy by 
any means." 

Rev. A. J. Waldron says: 

"I have studied Spiritualism for twenty years. 
I do not think there is a book worth reading on 
the subject which I have not carefully studied. 
I have debated with some of the most eminent 
mediums, and I have studied the question in 
seances, and I have been forced to the conclu- 
sion that there is a residuum of fact which can 
only be explained on the spiritualistic hypothesis." 

Rev. J. A. Milburn said: 

"They are forming a sect called Spiritualism. 
You cannot laugh at Spiritualism. Only shallow 
people laugh at Spiritualism. The thoughtful man 
no longer laughs at Spiritualism. That man is 
reaching for a truth beyond the truth that he finds 
within the boundaries of the visible church." 

Rev. Minot J. Savage, the profound 
Unitarian preacher, said: 

"The results of my investigation lead me to be- 
lieve that the spirits of the dead communicate with 
us. I have received communications from people 
whom I know to have lived on earth." 



Rev. George H. Hepworth said: 

"If angels talked with mortals from the time 
of Adam to the days succeeding the crucifixion, it 
is folly to suppose that the curtain dropped and we 
have ever since been left without the companion- 
ship of a cloud of witnesses.' .... It is useless 
for the Christian to declare that such miracles, if 
they are miracles, were confined to the limits of a 
given period. He must accept what happens today 
as well as what happened centuries ago. If God 
is really a presence in the world then he must be 
a continually revealing presence. There is a kind 
of absurdity in the statement that He has spoken 
once but refuses to do so any more. If He ever 
spoke it is centainly true that he is still speaking. 
.... Every loved one who is gone is as conscious 
of our doubts and fears as when he was at our 
side. Neither his affection nor his power to aid has 
been abated. By unspoken words he talks with us, 
and our soul and his hold intimate communion. 
Were this not true, then our lives would be heavily 
and darkly overshadowed. But it is true. It is a 
doctrine of Holy Writ, it is verified by the history 
of every home, it is a component part of practical 
religion, it is a statement of fact which redeems 
us from despair and gives us good cheer, because 
heaven and we are not far apart." 

Dr. H. Martensen, bishop of Seeland, 
Denmark, in his book "Christian Dog- 
matics," says: 

"The idea that there is a reciprocal relation be- 
tween the living and the dead is variously extended 
in Catholicism. It is expressed, for example, in 

r 99 1 



prayers to the saints and in the belief in visions 
and manifestations of spirits from the realm be- 
yond the grave. Swedenborg, the northern Dante, 
who took in earnest what the southern Dante took 
as poetry, adopted the same idea of a rapport with 
the spirit world, for he (in subject conviction) 
paid a visit to those unseen regions, and received 
a visit likewise from the spirits there. The oft 
repeated remark, that in all this there is much illu- 
sion and fanaticism, may always on good ground 
be made; but we must not forget that superstition 
and fanaticism, like shadows, spring from and refer 
back to realities, and that all conceptions and 
representations, however fantastical, regarding the 
rapport we are speaking of, would be impossible if 
such a rapport did not exist." 

General Booth, of the Salvation Army 
in a copy of The War Cry, writes : 

"Through all my history, my personal inter- 
course with the spirit world has been but limited. 
I have not been favored with many visions, and 
it is but seldom that I dream dreams that impart 
either pleasure or profit; and yet I have a spirtual 
communion with the departed saints that is not 
without both satisfaction and service. And especial- 
ly of late the memories of those with whom my 
heart has had the very choicest communion in the 
past, if not the very beings themselves have come 
in upon me as I have sat at my desk or lain wake- 
ful on my bed in the night season. Among these, 
one form, true to her mission, comes more fre- 
quently than all besides, assuring me of her con- 
tinual partnership in my struggle for the temporal 
and eternal salvation of the multitude — and that is 
my blessed, my beautiful wife." 
[100] 



Theodore Parker, the eloquent preach- 
er, said: 

"It seems more likely that Spiritualism will be- 
come the religion of America. It has more evi- 
dence for its wonders than any historic form of 
religion hitherto. It is thoroughly democratic, with 
no hierarchy, but inspiration is open to all. It 
admits all the truths of religion and morality in 
all the world's sects." 

Ella Wheeler Wilcox, the inspired 
writer, says: 

"My own studies and my own personal experi- 
ence and the testimonials of hundreds of brilliant 
men and women of my acquanitance prove to me 
beyond question the existence of life after death. 
I know we have invisible helpers, dwelling on 
higher planes than earth, ready to help us and 
to give us light if we seek their assistance." 

Dr. Robert Chambers, the well known 
writer, says: 

"Already Spiritualism has had a prodigious ef- 
fect throughout America and partly in the Old 
World, also in redeeming multitudes from har- 
dened atheism and materialism, proving to them, 
by the positive demonstration which their positive 
cast of mind requires, that there is another world, 
that there is a non-material form of Humanity, and 
that many miraculous things which they had 
hitherto scoffed at are true." 



101 



Gerald Massey, poet and author, says: 

"The Spiritualist who has plumed the void of 
death as I have and touched this solid ground of 
fact, has established a faith that can neither be 
undermined nor overthrown. He has done with 
the poetry of desolation and despair, the sight? of 
unavailing regret, and the passionate wailing of 
unfruitful pain. He cannot be bereaved in soul." 

Mrs. Annie Besant, President of the 
Theosophy Society, says: 

"The Spiritualistic answers agree as to the re- 
vival of the individual after the death of the body, 
and a mass of evidence is proffered, which, in the 
opinion of all who have carefully studied it, places 
the fact of revival beyond dispute. When every 
possible deduction has been made for fraud, hallu- 
cination, self-deception, there remains an irreduci- 
ble minimum of evidence, which is sufficient to prove 
that the man survives on the other side of death. 
The evidence, as is well known, is obtained through 
the class of sensitives known as 'mediums/ and is 
of the most varied kinds — writing, speaking, ma- 
tializing, under trance conditions and otherwise." 

Maurice Maeterlinck, the philosopher- 
author, says: 

"It is quite possible, and even probable that the 
dead are all round us, since it is impossible that 
the dead do not live. Have you ever imagined 
that you would perish entirely? As for me, what 
I cannot conceive is the manner in which you 
would picture that total annihilation. But if you 

[102] 



cannot perish entirely, it is no less certain that 
those who came before you have not perished 
either, and hence it is not altogether improbable 
that we may be able to discover and commuincate 
with them. In this wider sense, the Spiritualistic 
theory is perfectly admissible." 

Leon Denis, the great French spiritual 
philosopher, in his book "Life and 
Destiny." writes: 

"The Spiritualist knows death ends nothing. It 
is for him the entrance into a mode of life full of 
rich impressions and sensations. Not only are we 
still in possession of spiritual joys, but they are 
augmented by new resources and more varied 
powers of enjoyment. Death does not even de- 
prive us of the things of earth; we continue to 
see those we love and left behind us. From the 
bosom of space we follow the progress of this 
planet, we see the changes which take place, and 
we assist in new discoveries, in the development 
of nations, politically, socially, and religiously; 
and until the hour we return to flesh we participate 
ethically to the measure of our power and our 
advancement in the labors of those who toil for 
humanity." 

Isaac K. Funk, publisher and writer, in 
his book "The Widow's Mite," writes: 

"Apply the claims of Spiritualists to the facts 
in the Bible hardest to believe — hardest for 
scientists to believe — the facts of the birth and 
resurrection of Jesus. If certain phenomena 

f 103 1 



which I have seen in the seance-room, and which 
I have not been able to explain by any hypothesis 
of fraud or coincidence, stand the fuller tests of 
scientific investigation, it will become scientifically 
easy to believe that a supreme spirit, as was Jesus, 
came down into the flesh, as did He, and was able 
to lay down His life and to take it up again." 

Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of 
"Uncle Tom's Cabin;' said: 

"The beloved ones beyond the veil are crowned, 
glorified, but still they remain to us, our assistants, 
comforters and in every house of darkness their 
voice speaks to us." 

A. P. Sinnett, the well known occult- 
ist, said: 

"In the middle of the last century superior wis- 
dom, guiding the evolution of human intelligence, 
started Spiritualism to give the current generation 
proof, of a kind it could understand, that there 
was a life after this, and another plane of con- 
sciousness. Millions availed themselves of the op- 
portunities afforded, and other millions were silly 
enough to think that because a fringe of imposture 
gathered round the manifestation, there was no 
reality within the fringe." 

Honore De Balzac, the great French 
author, writes: 

"So many proven facts have been first discovered 
by occult science, that some day we shall have 
professors of occult science, as we already have 
professors of chemistry and astronomy." 

[ 104] 



Victor Hugo, the eminent French 
author, in his "Toilers of the Sea," 
writes : 

"There are times when the unknown reveals it- 
self to the spirit of men in visions. Such visions 
have occasionally the power to effect a transfigura- 
tion, converting a poor camel-driver into a Ma- 
homet, a peasant girl tending her goats into a Joan 

of Arc Those that depart still remain near 

us — they are in a world of light but they, as ten- 
der witnesses, hover about our world of darkness. 
Though invisible to some, they are not absent. 
Sweet is their presence, holy is their converse 
with us." 

Queen Victoria, in the London Daily 
News, in a letter acknowledging the gift 
of a Bible from "many widows," says: 

"Pray express to all these kind sister widows 
the deep and heartfelt gratitude of their widowed 
Queen, who can never feel grateful enough for the 
universal sympathy she has received, and con- 
tinues to receive, from her loyal and devoted sub- 
jects. But what she values far more is their ap- 
preciation of her adored and loved husband. To 
her the only consolation she experiences is in the 
constant sense of his unseen presence, and the 
pleased thought of the eternal union hereafter 
which will make the bitter anguish of the present 
appear as naught." 

Sir Edwin Arnold, author, says: 

"All I can say is this: that I regard many of 
the manifest actions as genuine and undeniable, or 

\ 105 1 



inexplicable by any known law of collusion, ar- 
rangement or deception of the senses, and that I 
conceive it the duty and interest of men of science 
and sense to examine and prosecute the inquiry, 
as one which has thoroughly passed from the 
region of ridicule." 

Henry W. Longfellow, the poet, says: 

"The spiritual world lies all about us, and its 
avenues are open to the unseen feet of phantoms 
that come and go, and we perceive them not save 
by their influence, or when at times a most mys- 
terious providence permits them to manifest them- 
selves to mortal eyes." 

Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the 
author, writes: 

"From theories we get over no difficulty, it seems 
to me, by escaping from the obvious inference of 
an external spiritual agency. When the phenomena 
was attributed, for instance, to a second person- 
ality, projected unconsciously and attended by an 
unconscious exercise of volition and clairvoyance; 
I see nothing clearly but a convulsive struggle on 
the part of the theorist to get out of a position he 
does not like, at whatever expense of kicks at the 
analogies of God's universe." 

Prof. William James said: 

"I am myself persuaded by abundant acquaint- 
ance with the trances of one medium (Mrs. Piper) 
that the 'control' may be altogether different from 
any possible waking self of the person. In the case 
I have in mind, it (the influence) professes to be a 
certain departed French doctor; and is, I am con- 

[ 106 1 



vinced with facts about the circumstances of the 
living and dead acquaintances of numberless sitters, 
whom the medium never met before and whom she 
has never heard the names." 

Dr. M. Hodgson, the great detective, 
says : 

"I have no hesitation in affirming, with the most 
absolute assurance, that the spirit hypothesis is 
justified by its fruits." 

Prof. Cesare Lombroso, in his book 
"After Death," writes: 

"The facts relating to the activity of phantoms 
are so well proven that we can begin ourselves to 
construct their biology and psychology." 

William T. Stead, the English jour- 
nalists, in the preface to his book "Letters 
from Julia," says: 

"For the last fifteen years I have been con- 
vinced, by the pressure of a continually accumulat- 
ing mass of first-hand evidence, of the truth of the 
persistence of personality after death, and the pos- 
sibility of intercourse with the departed after 
death. But I always said 'I will wait until some 
one of my own family has passed beyond the grave 
before I finally declare my conviction on this sub- 
ject.' Twelve months ago this month of December 
I saw my eldest son, whom I had trained in the 
fond hope that he would be my successor, die at the 
early age of thirty-three. The tie between us was 
of the closest. No one could deceive me by fabri- 
cated spurious messages from my beloved son. 

[ 107] 



Twelve months have now passed, in almost every 
week of which I have been cheered and com- 
forted by messages from my boy, who is nearer 
and dearer to me than ever before. The preceding 
twelve months I had been much abroad. I heard 
less frequently from him in that year than I have 
heard from him since he passed out of my sight. 
I have not taken his communications by my own 
hand. I knew him so well that what I wrote might 
have been the unconscious echoes of converse in 
the past. He has communicated with me through 
the hands of two slight acquaintances and they have 
been one and all as clearly stamped with the im- 
press of his own character and mode of thought as 
any letters he wrote to me during his sojourn on 
earth. After this I can doubt no more. For me 
the problem is solved, the truth established, and 
I am glad to have this opportunity of testifying 
publicly to all the world that, so far as I am con- 
cerned, doubt on this subject is henceforth im- 
possible." 

Frederick W. H. Myers, in his great 
work on "Human Personality and its 
Survival of Bodily Death," said: 

"Veritable manifestations do reach us from be- 
yond the grave. The central claim of Christianity 
is thus confirmed, as never before. If our own 
friends, men like ourselves, can sometimes return 
to tell us of love and hope, a mightier spirit may 
well have used the eternal laws with a more com- 
manding power." 

[108] 



Prof. William Barrett, in his book 
"Threshold of the Unseen," says: 

"I do not hesitate to affirm that after a careful 
review of my experiments extending over forty 
years compels my belief in Spiritualism as so de- 
fined." 

Prof. Mayo, professor of anatomy at 
King's College, London, said: 

"Twenty-rive years ago I was a hard-headed un- 
believer. Spiritual phenomena suddenly developed 
in my own family. This led me to inquire, and to 
try numerous experiments in such way as removed 
the possibility of trickery or self-deception. That 
phenomena occur there is overwhelming evidence, 
and it is too late now to deny their existence." 

Prof. J. H. Hysloj) said: 

"After ten years of research in psychic phe- 
nomena I have come to the conclusion that there is 
no other explanation for the manifestations I have 
witnessed than so-called 'Spiritualism' that is com- 
munion with spirits after death." 

Sir William Crookes said: 

"It is quite true that a connection has been set 
up between this world and the next." 

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, famous Eng- 
lish writer, whose investigations of "Life 
After Death" have aroused world-wide 
interest, says : 

"I was a materialist at one time and would be a 
materialist today if it were not for the overwhelm- 

r 109 1 



ing proof of a future existence which has come to 
me personally, in addition to the evidence put for- 
ward by such great leaders of thought as Sir 
Alfred Russel Wallace, Sir William Crookes, Sir 
Oliver Lodge and Cesare Lombroso. I have spoken 
face to face with eleven of my relatives and 
friends, discussing intimate matters known only to 
ourselves. It is positive knowledge of this kind 
which makes me go forth to teach others that which 
I have learned myself. As to the religious aspect, 
I number among my acquaintances and supporters 
clergymen of various denominations, who find there 
is nothing in this grand and consoling message that 
can injure those fundamentals which the believer 
may value." 

Prof. Richard Hodgson said: 

"For a period of twelve years I have had com- 
munication with the spirits of the so-called dead, 
through the mediumship of Mrs. Piper. Today I 
am prepared to say that I am a believer in the 
possibility of messages being received from what 
people call the spirit dead." 

Sir Oliver Lodge says: 

"We, ourselves, are not limited to the few years 
that we live on this earth; we shall go on without 
it ; we shall certainly survive. Why do I say that ? 
I say it on definite, scientific ground. I say it be- 
cause I know that certain friends of mine still 
exist, because I have talked with them. One must 
obey the laws to find out the conditions. I do not 
say it is easy, but it is possible, and I have con- 
versed with them as I would converse with any 
one through a telephone." 

[110] 



Dr. Alfred Russel Wallace said: 

"Up to the time when I first became acquainted 
with the facts of Spiritualism I was a confirmed 
philosophical sceptic, rejoicing in the works of Vol- 
taire, and Carl Vogt, and an ardent admirer (as I 
am still) of Herbert Spencer. I was so thoroughly 
and confirmed a materialist that I could not at that 
time find a place in my mind for the conception of 
spiritual existence, or for any other agencies in the 
universe than matter and force. Facts, however, 
are stubborn things. My curiosity was at first ex- 
cited by some slight, but inexplicable, phenomena 
occurring in a friend's family, and my desire for 
knowledge and love of truth forced me to continue 
the inquiry. The facts became more and more as- 
sured The facts beat me. They compelled 

me to accept them as facts long before I could ac- 
cept the spiritual explanation of them; there was 
at that time 'no place in my fabric of thought into 
which it could be fitted.' By slow degrees a place 
was made; but it was made, not by any precon- 
ceived or theoretical opinions, but by the continu- 
ous action of fact after fact which could not be 
gotten rid of in any other way." 



[in] 



CONCLUSION 

I have sought, in the preceding pages, 
to reveal something of the truth, power 
and beauty of the message Modern Spirit- 
ualism brings to humanity. I have offered 
nothing but simple facts and plain argu- 
ments, and appealed only to the reason 
and common sense of the reader, and I 
ask nothing but that you will divest your- 
self of prejudice and preconceived opin- 
ion, and, with an open mind, consider this 
important subject. That you may de- 
termine for yourself, that you will accept 
this great truth of spirit return, and 
thereby generously enlarge your views of 
life here and hereafter, and at the same 
time open yourself to receive countless 
blessings. 

If the subject is somewhat new to you, 
read some of the splendid books on Spirit- 
ualism written by the world's advanced 
thinkers. Go to the Spiritualists' meet- 
ings, interview the mediums, investigate 
the subject to your own complete satis- 

[112] 



faction, and as the Scriptures tell us, 
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is 
good." Spiritualism will stand the acid 
test of personal investigation ; its great ad- 
vantage is that it asks you to accept 
nothing on faith, nothing upon the opinion 
of another, but reveals a way by which you 
can have personal experiences which will 
demonstrate to you beyond the shadow of 
a doubt the truth of its teachings. 

Xo matter what your religious beliefs 
are, no matter to what denomination you 
belong, you will find Spiritualism to be a 
source of inspiration and enlightenment, 
in which you will discover nothing to 
disprove the vital truths of your own re- 
ligious belief, only that which will give 
more information, and open up wider the 
way through which the golden beams of 
truth's great light can illuminate your 
mind. 

Spiritualism is for all, not for just one 
sect, one nation, one race, but for all hu- 
manity. It has no quarrel with the differ- 
ent religious systems of the world; it 
comes bearing aloft the olive branch of 
[113] 



peace, to bring wisdom, power, unity and 
love. All of the world's religious systems 
have truth within them, some naturally 
possessing more of God's precious truth 
than others, and a study and knowledge 
of Modern Spiritualism gives one the 
power to discriminate between that which 
is true and that which is false, and there- 
by enables one to accept the truth and re- 
ject the rest. 

Give this greatest and most vital of sub- 
jects your earnest consideration. Ex- 
amine it with the magnifying glass of 
your reason, your own judgment, seek the 
counsel of your own spirit, put it before 
the bar of all the faculties of your intel- 
lect, and you will find it will sparkle and 
flash with the divine light of truth, like a 
pure jewel in a golden setting. 

Consider what you lose and what you 
gain in embracing Spiritualism. You lose 
your bondage to false creeds and dogmas, 
your fear of hell fire, of death, and the 
great uncertainty regarding what happens 
after death. You gain a complete knowl- 
edge of the whole truth about religion, 
[114] 



you exchange opinion for certainty, faith 
for knowledge. You do not have to part 
with your dignity or independence, 
neither do you have to give up your rea- 
soning power. You are no longer adrift 
upon a sea of uncertainty, but firmly 
grounded upon the rock of eternal truth. 
You realize the powers of the spirit with- 
in, and the possibilities of the unfoldment, 
and development and use of these spiritual 
gifts. You enjoy all the great advantages 
of communion with the spirits of the so- 
called dead. Life becomes radiant, full of 
joy, and peace dwells within you, and you 
will say, as did one of old, who was in the 
presence of the arisen Moses and Elias: 
''It is good for us to be here." 

In Spiritualism you will find a religion 
so inspiring and broad in revelation that 
no person or body of people, no matter 
how great their desire, will ever be able to 
make a dogmatic creed out of it. It is this 
supreme fact which assures the glorious 
future of Spiritualism as the Universal 
Religion, as it not only can illuminate the 
mind of man today, but for all times; no 

. [115] 



matter how high he evolves in the scale of 
life, Spiritualism will still be able to teach 
and inspire him with greater and grander 
facts of eternal life. 

Truth is the mighty weapon before 
which error falls, and truth is ever found 
within the teachings and revelations of 
Modern Spiritualism. When Jesus said: 
"Ye shall know the truth, and the truth 
shall make you free," He uttered a sub- 
lime fact, and Spiritualism has come to 
bring humanity that truth, which will 
give man a greater freedom of the mind, 
and an infinite liberty of the soul. 



[116 



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